8 years 11 mo

1. How smart is your child, and in what areas? Think back to the blurb on multiple intelligences that appeared at age 6. Find specific evidence regarding your child's verbal, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence from your observations of your own child as well as the psychologist's report at age 8 years, 11 months.

Isabelle has turned out to be very verbally strong and loves to read and write, she loves to write stories and read them to people. She also is very strong in arts, building things and making projects. She has shown a interest in music and started clarinet lessons after school. As far as bodily-kinesthetic she is very active in sports and loves playing with the kids in the neighborhood softball. Isabelle’s mathematic ability above average, at 6 we had to get her some tutoring but now she is doing really well and is ahead in school in math and reading. Overall she is a very smart little girl… that may sound bias coming from her mother but she is undoubtedly a smart little girl.

2. Describe some examples of your child's behavior or thinking that you think are due to typical American gender role socialization and explain why you think so. Several examples can be found at ages 6 and 8. How closely does your attitude toward gender roles correspond to typical American attitudes, and if there is a discrepancy, to what do you attribute this (e.g., cultural background, attitudes of your own parents, etc.)?

Isabelle plays with girls most of the time and likes to play with dolls but she also likes sports. I can see how gender typing plays a role in her choice of friends and things she does. However I make sure she knows that it’s ok to play sports she likes and still be a girl or still be just as feminine. I think our culture has changed in the last couple generations to be more accepting to other types of jobs for instance, men can be nurses woman are doctors, firefighters, police officers can enlist in the army, men are stay at home dads. My parents were more traditional, my Mom stayed at home with the kids while my Dad worked. My parents didn’t think that woman should be in the military, or be pastors of a church but these are things that are more widely accepted. Just like men becoming a nurse, my parents would have never seen that too often but now a lot of men are considering that career.


3. How might your child's development have been different if s/he was raised by people with a different socioeconomic, ethnic or cultural background? Base your answer on specific evidence of SES/cultural differences from the textbook and class lectures.

It could have changed her development either negatively or positively. If she was in a home that was in poverty, she may not have gotten the nourishment needed to develop and she possibly wouldn’t be as far ahead in reading and writing and doing as well in school if she didn’t have educated parents. It could have affected her attachment to the parent if she lived in a different country. Children in the US tend to be more securely attached then children in Germany who have a tendency to be more avoidant in attachment. This would affect her later in the way she deals with situations and her relationship with parents and how well she listens.